Hello, my name is Jen. I grew up in Rhode Island and have lived all over the state from Cranston, Narragansett, Glocester and now currently Providence. I graduated from the University Rhode Island in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Communication Studies. I've always known that I wanted to work with kids in some capacity, but it wasn't until I started volunteering at the Audubon Society that I realized how much I liked teaching. I volunteered their in 2004 first as an educational assistant, then an exhibit hall guide, moving up to a field/trail guide. My parents have always had a big influence on me. As a child my dad instilled his natural curiosity and love of science on me and my mom always told me to be whatever makes me happiest in the world. I knew that I wanted to make a difference and teaching made me happy, so becoming a science teacher seemed to be a logical next step!
Currently I am enrolled in the Masters of Arts/Teacher Certification Program at the University of Rhode Island. Here, I have taken classes in education, biology and general science. I have also had the privilege of working with Providence middle school children through the Pathways for Success in Science Program. This program has taught me many things about working with the urban population and also has reinforced my desire to become a teacher. When I am not in school, I am either hiking, reading, or playing around with my camera. I am also in the process of starting a website dedicated to exploring the nature trails of Rhode Island. With any luck RhodeIslandRambles.com will be up and running in Summer 2010!
Check out my unit plan **Human Influence on Narragansett Bay**
The purpose of this unit is to get the students thinking about how humans impact their environment. At this point in their education, students probably have been exposed to some ecological concepts and have a basic understanding of ecosystems and how they function. The concept of equilibrium in ecosystems will be investigated as students examine ecosystems as open systems. Students will then investigate the Narragansett Bay Ecosystem and its different habitats and research how the human population has impacted it over time. Topics that will be investigated will be invasive/introduced species, overpopulation, habitat destruction, pollution, and the impact of global warming on the bay. Students will then take a look at how the balance of ecosystems can be disrupted and students will begin to to investigate their roles as organisms in an ecosystem.
From this unit students should gain an understanding of ecosystems as open systems that can be influenced by external factors. Students will examing how the human population impacts the stability of ecosystems as well as examining their own individual impact on ecosystems, their ecological footprint. The goal of this unit is to make students more ecologically aware of there surrounding and their connection and impact on the biosphere.
Student Teaching Information
A. First Student Teaching Placement
School: Coventry High School
Address: (If possible, include link to Google Maps directions from URI))
Principal: Michael J. Hobin
Sci Dept Head/MS Team Leader: Kathleen Sullivan
Office secretary(s): Mary Ann Cantino
Custodian(s): Ron Robitalle
Who do you call when sick or dying? Kathleen Sullivan
What are the phone numbers? 822-9499 *149
Cooperating Teacher: William Brew
B. Second Student Teaching Placement
School: (Exter-West Greenwich Regional Junior High)
Address: (930 Nooseneck Hill Rd, West Greenwich, RI 02817)
Principal: Mark Thompson
Sci Dept Head: Matt Savoie
MS Team Leader: Andrew Wallace
Office secretary(s): Kathy Hawley, Mary Richard
Custodian(s): Director of Maintenance - Bill Plumley
Who do you call when sick or dying? Beth Brocato
What are the phone numbers? Beth Brocato 374-8534. JH main office: 397-6898
Cooperating Teacher: Beth Brocato
Jennifer Hawkins
Hello, my name is Jen. I grew up in Rhode Island and have lived all over the state from Cranston, Narragansett, Glocester and now currently Providence. I graduated from the University Rhode Island in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Communication Studies. I've always known that I wanted to work with kids in some capacity, but it wasn't until I started volunteering at the Audubon Society that I realized how much I liked teaching. I volunteered their in 2004 first as an educational assistant, then an exhibit hall guide, moving up to a field/trail guide. My parents have always had a big influence on me. As a child my dad instilled his natural curiosity and love of science on me and my mom always told me to be whatever makes me happiest in the world. I knew that I wanted to make a difference and teaching made me happy, so becoming a science teacher seemed to be a logical next step!
Currently I am enrolled in the Masters of Arts/Teacher Certification Program at the University of Rhode Island. Here, I have taken classes in education, biology and general science. I have also had the privilege of working with Providence middle school children through the Pathways for Success in Science Program. This program has taught me many things about working with the urban population and also has reinforced my desire to become a teacher. When I am not in school, I am either hiking, reading, or playing around with my camera. I am also in the process of starting a website dedicated to exploring the nature trails of Rhode Island. With any luck RhodeIslandRambles.com will be up and running in Summer 2010!
Teaching Portfolio
Teaching Rationale
Check out my unit plan
**Human Influence on Narragansett Bay**
The purpose of this unit is to get the students thinking about how humans impact their environment. At this point in their education, students probably have been exposed to some ecological concepts and have a basic understanding of ecosystems and how they function. The concept of equilibrium in ecosystems will be investigated as students examine ecosystems as open systems. Students will then investigate the Narragansett Bay Ecosystem and its different habitats and research how the human population has impacted it over time. Topics that will be investigated will be invasive/introduced species, overpopulation, habitat destruction, pollution, and the impact of global warming on the bay. Students will then take a look at how the balance of ecosystems can be disrupted and students will begin to to investigate their roles as organisms in an ecosystem.
From this unit students should gain an understanding of ecosystems as open systems that can be influenced by external factors. Students will examing how the human population impacts the stability of ecosystems as well as examining their own individual impact on ecosystems, their ecological footprint. The goal of this unit is to make students more ecologically aware of there surrounding and their connection and impact on the biosphere.
Student Teaching Information
A. First Student Teaching Placement
School: Coventry High SchoolAddress: (If possible, include link to Google Maps directions from URI))
Principal: Michael J. Hobin
Sci Dept Head/MS Team Leader: Kathleen Sullivan
Office secretary(s): Mary Ann Cantino
Custodian(s): Ron Robitalle
Who do you call when sick or dying? Kathleen Sullivan
What are the phone numbers? 822-9499 *149
Cooperating Teacher: William Brew
B. Second Student Teaching Placement
School: (Exter-West Greenwich Regional Junior High)Address: (930 Nooseneck Hill Rd, West Greenwich, RI 02817)
Principal: Mark Thompson
Sci Dept Head: Matt Savoie
MS Team Leader: Andrew Wallace
Office secretary(s): Kathy Hawley, Mary Richard
Custodian(s): Director of Maintenance - Bill Plumley
Who do you call when sick or dying? Beth Brocato
What are the phone numbers? Beth Brocato 374-8534. JH main office: 397-6898
Cooperating Teacher: Beth Brocato
Observations and Reflections